The Belagavi Technology Companies Association (BeTCA) hosted the fourth edition of its annual Belagavi Tech Meet at the Presidency Club on Saturday evening, drawing together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and innovators under the theme “Tech for Human Impact.”
The event underscored how Belagavi is increasingly positioning itself as a serious contender in Karnataka’s Beyond Bengaluru initiative, proving that world-class innovation can emerge from tier-2 cities.
BeTCA’s Growing Footprint
In his address, Gajendra S. Tripathi shared BeTCA’s achievements over the past year, noting that the association—registered as a Section 8 non-profit collective of IT and ITeS firms—has become a unifying platform for startups, SMEs, and corporates in the region.
He highlighted BeTCA’s engagement with DST Secretary Shri Abhay Karandikar, who praised the level of innovation coming out of Belagavi, as well as discussions with MLA Sharath Kumar Bache Gowda (Chairman- Keonics) on infrastructure needs for a future IT Park and plug-and-play facilities. BeTCA also launched a jobs portal to bridge the gap between local talent and opportunities, ensuring Belagavi’s tech ecosystem grows from the ground up.
Panel 1: DeepTech for the Future
The first panel, moderated by Aadil Bandukwala (VP, HackerRank), featured Kawal Arora (DesiLLM) and Akash Kulgod (Dognosis).
Arora, who previously worked with Tesla before returning to India, spoke about the biases embedded in existing global LLMs, stressing that DesiLLM is building India-specific, bias-free large language models. Describing early AI tools like ChatGPT as a “genie we didn’t know what to do with,” he emphasized the need for culturally contextualized AI.
Kulgod, a Cognitive Science graduate from UC Berkeley, recounted how the Covid pandemic inspired him to launch Dognosis. With dogs often outperforming humans in detecting Covid, he saw the potential to use their scent-detection abilities to identify multiple diseases. “Beagles are the best partners in this mission,” he noted, citing their independence and temperament.
Panel 2: From Belagavi to Global
The second panel brought together Leena Padihari (Alfanzyme Life Science), Allahbaksh (Infosys Hubli), and Shekhar Gaonkar (PetCart).
Padihari shared her entrepreneurial journey, from starting with a small loan to building Alfanzyme into a ₹50 crore biotech company, now serving over 200 sugar factories and expanding internationally.
Allahbaksh emphasized persistence as the cornerstone of growth, drawing from his corporate experiences at Infosys.
Gaonkar explained how observing the rise of pet indulgence led him to build PetCart, a niche e-commerce venture that has expanded into innovative offerings like the PetCart Nest resort for pets.
Local Product Launches Steal the Show
A major highlight of the evening was the launch of four homegrown products by BeTCA members, each underscoring Belagavi’s innovation capacity:
- KabadiMan – A door-to-door trash recycling service that rewards customers.
- Hoopoe Electric – An urban electric bike built entirely in Belagavi.
- Zen AI – An AI-powered tool simplifying online advertising and marketing.
- BeTCA Assist – BeTCA’s own AI initiative to support local companies.
Networking and Outlook
The evening concluded with a vote of thanks by R. K. Patil, followed by Hi-Tea and networking, where participants connected with peers across industries.
A BeTCA spokesperson summed up the mood: “The Belagavi Tech Meet 2025 once again proved that innovation is not confined to metros. From electric bikes to AI platforms, Belagavi is building products that serve the world while making a strong human impact locally.”
With powerful discussions and tangible product showcases, the Tech Meet reinforced Belagavi’s growing reputation as a rising technology hub with global ambitions.